Crank wrote a not-so-flattering letter about Rayburn to delegates, a missive Rayburn said he hasn’t seen.

“While I haven’t always agreed with Doug Lamborn on every issue or decision, Doug has voted the right way while in Congress on the most critical issues that face our country,” said Crank, who formerly ran Americans for Prosperity Colorado and now has his own firm, Aegis Strategic.

Lamborn, Crank and Rayburn were among the six candidates who ran for the seat in 2006 when Congressman Joel Hefley of Colorado Springs retired, finishing first, second and third respectively in the GOP primary. Because the 5th is heavily Republican, the primary contest was the real election.

He has formed a new group, Aegis Strategic, a for-profit national firm aimed at recruiting candidates “principled on economic freedom issues.”

Philp, former director of the Colorado Republican Party, will travel between Virginia and Colorado as Aegis’ chief operating officer. Philps said he plans to retain his partnership in Collins Anderson Philp Public Affairs.

And new director of the state AFP is Dustin Zvonek, who resigned his post as district director and spokesman for U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, who apparently has his own game of musical chairs underway when it comes to communication directors.

Speaking on a conservative talk radio show over the weekend, El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa alleged Senate Democratic leadership is angling to withhold a bill on pay increases for county sheriffs because of their opposition to gun control measures.

In fact, Maketa, a Republican who was elected sheriff in 2002, said he “will push” to have Republican Attorney General John Suthers investigate it.

Senate President John Morse, a Colorado Springs Democrat, on Sunday called those allegations “blatantly false” and “reprehensible.”

[powerpress]

Sen. John Morse

“A line needs to be drawn between right from wrong,” Maketa said on The Jeff Crank Show, before alleging Democrats committed an “unlawful act.”

Maketa could not be reached despite several requests for comment Sunday – though in the radio interview he noted he would look to publish a letter in The Gazette this week outlining what occurred.

Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee, who is president of County Sheriffs of Colorado, said he had no knowledge of any Democratic lawmakers making any sort of threats in regard to pay raises.

UPDATE: Lamborn campaign says Blaha has said he doesn’t have a problem with the Congressman’s voting record. “As far as we’re concerned, there’s nothing to debate. Congressman Lamborn is not interested in a debate over personalities,” said Lamborn spokeswoman Catherine Mortensen.

COLORADO SPRINGS – When and if Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn will debate challenger Robert Blaha is a question unknown.

For voters in southern Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, the decision as to who will represent them in Washington will arrive on June 26 with the Republican primary.

With three weeks until ballots in the all mail-in election are sent to voters — absentee ballots were mailed to soldiers overseas Friday — Blaha, a boisterous businessman whose deep pockets have made him a viable challenger, says he’s asked Lamborn to a debate on more than 16 different occasions.

And Lamborn’s response has been, for the most part, unresponsive. Except for late Monday afternoon when Lamborn spokeswoman, Catherine Mortensen, e-mailed The Denver Post saying, “Mr. Blaha has said he doesn’t have a problem with the Congressman’s voting record. As far as we’re concerned, there’s nothing to debate. Congressman Lamborn is not interested in a debate over personalities.”

Delegates to the 7th Congressional District Assembly were friendlier to Senate candidate Jane Norton than the Republicans who attended the 5th CD assembly the next day. (Photo by Lynn Bartels/The Denver Post)

The Republicans who booed and heckled Jane Norton at the 5th Congressional District Assembly last week might be wishing they had shut their mouths instead.

The incident has led to a series of e-mails among Republicans furious at the behavior. And the conservative blog Rocky Mountain Right, in picking winners and losers at the Loveland GOP gathering, put 5th CD delegates in the “loser” category.

What a disgusting show of tactlessness toward Jane Norton. Regardless of how you feel about a candidate, it never hurts to show respect to someone else. Do the people who acted so juvenile realize that these actions make conservatives look like an angry mob? If we want independents to believe we can solve the problems facing our country, we need to act like adults who are serious about governing with integrity and competence.

It looks as if every conservative group in Colorado will descend on Denver March 10 for what is being billed as Taxpayer Day at the Capitol.

The event includes a noon rally on the west steps of the state Capitol.

Liberals, watch out. One flier says “It’s time to let them know how YOU feel!!” But really, was there ever any doubt?

Those participating include Americans for Prosperity Colorado, The 9.12 Project Colorado Coalition, The Gadsden Society, the Independence Institute, Liberty on the Rocks, Peoples Press Collective and the Western Slope Conservative Alliance.

Conservatives believe that Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and the Democratic-controlled legislature have imposed tax increases without going to a vote of the people, as required by the 1992 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

“The message of smaller government living within its means hasn’t gotten through. While there is a day at the Capitol for every special interest group out there, one interest group – the taxpayer – seems to have been forgotten until now.”

So says Jeff Crank, the state director of AFP Colorado, which is hosting a Grassroots Advocacy Session that same morning. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.